The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has taken note of the German government's plans to continue its institutional funding in the 2026 draft budget. Against the backdrop of the coalition agreement between the three parties that make up the German government, the DAAD expects further discussions to take place during the budget legislative process.

"In their coalition agreement, which forms the basis for the work of the federal government that has been in office for three months, the CDU, CSU and SPD promised to strengthen the DAAD across all departments. The federal cabinet's draft budget does not yet deliver on this," said DAAD President Prof. Dr. Joybrato Mukherjee. "Aware of the difficult budgetary situation, we would like to thank the Federal Foreign Office, our institutional sponsor, for its support with regard to the continuation of our basic funding of 208 million euros. In view of the massive increase in costs and investment requirements at the DAAD, as well as the new DAAD programmes for German foreign science policy expected in the coalition agreement, this continuation does not yet meet the financial requirements." It is therefore assumed that these requirements will be discussed in greater depth with the members of the German Bundestag during the further parliamentary legislative process. 

"In their coalition agreement, the parties supporting the Federal Government have jointly and with good reason spoken out in favour of strengthening foreign science policy, which is more important than ever in times of geopolitical shifts and global crises. Cross-border academic exchange and international scientific cooperation are fundamental prerequisites for a world order based on cooperation and rules," Mukherjee continued. 

Funding from other federal ministries

The DAAD expects a gratifyingly high budget from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for 2026. It anticipates a total of around 190 million euros for its exchange programmes and project plans – funds that the DAAD will use, for example, to attract international talent to Germany as a centre of science and business, now also as part of the new 1,000-Köpfe-Plus programme.

At the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the DAAD must participate in the consolidation of the BMZ budget: here, the planned funds are being reduced by around six million euros from 55 million euros to just under 49 million euros.

Background

The DAAD receives funding for global academic exchange from several public sources. The Federal Foreign Office (AA) is the institutional sponsor of the DAAD and, as such, secures the DAAD's basic funding. The DAAD receives additional programme-related funds from the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). In addition, the DAAD is the National Agency for Erasmus+ Higher Education Cooperation and receives funding for this from the European Union.